The 19-year-old female victim reported being taken against her will at approximate 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, near Aquinas, located at 1700 Fulton St., according to a press release.

The victim, who the police described as a vulnerable adult, advised officers that she was walking when a car approached. The suspect got out of the vehicle, approached the victim, and then forced her inside the car. The student reported being driven to an unknown location and sexually assaulted.

“The victim eventually escaped, called for a ride, and later contacted police,” according to the press release.

The vulnerable adult description was not further explained beyond the student having some special needs.

The suspect is described as a middle aged, Indian or Middle Eastern male, between 5’8” and 6’0” with salt and pepper hair, and facial hair including a long goatee.

The suspect’s vehicle is described as a black, 4-door sedan with four tinted windows, leather interior with orange and reddish display lights, and clothes littered throughout the backseat. Earlier reports had indicated it was an SUV.

Detectives are in the process of attempting to locate the exact location of the abduction and subsequent criminal sexual conduct.

The Grand Rapids Police Department Family Services Team is investigating the incident reported on Saturday, Sept. 9. No further details were available.

On Monday, Sept. 11, the college sent a text message and email to all students and employees and posted information on the Aquinas College Department of Campus Safety Facebook page regarding the incident.

According to Aquinas, the suspect approached the victim at the corner of Woodmere Avenue SE and Robinson Road SE.

Anyone with further information about this incident is asked to call the Grand Rapids Police Department at 456-3604, or Silent Observer at 774 -2345. Silent Observer may also be contacted confidentially at www.silentobserver.org.

Aquinas has encourage students, faculty and staff to pre-program the Department of Campus Safety phone number into their cell phone 616-632-2463.

Grand Valley State Police is also investigating an alleged weekend sexual assault. The “inappropriate touching” occurred on Saturday, Sept. 9, on the Allendale campus.